A Support Network for Women Renunciants in Malaysia and Singapore

Menu

Archive | June 2012

In this illustrated talk given by the Thai bhikkhuni Ayya Dhammananda we hear about the lineage and history of the Buddha’s step-mother and aunt, who became the first Buddhist bhikkhuni, and the legacy she has passed on to us today.

The talk was recorded by Teik Leong Lim at the opening of the Gotami Vihara in Kuala Lumpur on June 2nd.

Warning: the sound quality is uneven, and at times it sounds like someone was scratching a comb back and forth over the microphone 🙂 Most is OK though.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A group of Malaysians under the loose organisation “Support Network for Women Renunciants in Malaysia and Singapore” has established Malaysia’s first dedicated Theravada Nuns Centre with the official opening of Gotami Vihara in a suburb of its capital city Kuala Lumpur.

Named after Ven Pajapati Gotami, the Buddha’s aunt and the first bhikkhuni, the centre was officially opened by Ven Saranankara Thero. Also present at the event were several prominent Asian bhikkhunis including Ven Santini of Indonesia, Ven Lieu Phap of Vietnam and Ven Dhammananda of Thailand.

Like this:

I am very grateful to Ayyā Dhammanandā for providing these posters by Kanjana Suthikul showing some of the recent ordinations that have occurred in Thailand. Let us all rejoice in seeing these women going-forth (descriptions are below the posters).

Dec.5, 2011: Samaṇerī asking forgiveness from her 84-year old mother, who had traveled some 800 kms to see her daughter ordained. She also had the chance to offer a bowl to her newly ordained daughter. At Songdhammakalyani Monastery, Nakhon Pathom.